Influential Variables and Causal Relations Impact on Innovative Performance and Sustainable Growth of SMEs in Aspect of Industry 4.0 and Digital Transformation

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper has a very relevant academic and practical significance. The structure and content of the manuscript are excellently done, and the references used are relevant and very numerous. There are several elements that need to be improved:

1. The authors should explain the sampling method. It is necessary to provide data on the response rate and the total sample. Also, it is necessary to explain why only the listed industries were included in the sampling.

2. The research model consists of 22 constructs grouped into 4 variables. The display of results in Table 10 contains 15 constructs. The other seven probably did not meet the criteria for reliability and validity. It should be explained what happened to the other constructs.

3. Model verification (Table 13) does not contain indicators that are crucial for verifying the validity of the research model: 1) Stoner-Geisser Q2, R2, and GOF for each construct and 2) SRMR (standard root mean square residual) for the entire model. These coefficients need to be calculated and presented in the paper.

4. Table 14 (Total Effects on Variables vs Seven Industry Divisions) shows a comparison of the results of the total sample with 7 different industries that make up the total sample. The presented results lack data for Div 5 and Div 6. The results for these industries should be presented in the above table and explained like the other results.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 1,

Thank you for your comments.

Please see attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Very interesting paper with a deeply development of literature and methodology. It is interesting to note the absence of research limits after the conclusion or before, I think is importanto to insert it. Furthermore, linked to following lines 70 - 73, is important confront also with the trajectories developed by other authors, i.e.

Khadim, N., Agliata, R., Marino, A., Thaheem, M. J., & Mollo, L. (2022). Critical review of nano and micro-level building circularity indicators and frameworks. Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 357, 10 July 2022.

Turning to the human factor, I believe it is useful to also report the following contribution, Marino, A., & Pariso, P. (2021). Human resource management in public transports: organizational typologies and research actions. VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, vol. 53 no. 3. for example in one of the following lines 489, 579, 572

see file

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 2,

Thank you for your comments.

Please see attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Please find attached file. 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 3,

Thank you for your comments.

Please see attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf